Mr Evans has now despatched David Goffin in 3 sets to reach the semi-finals where he'll play Stefanos Tsitsipas.
As if the surprise exit of Djokovic wasn't enough, Rafael Nadal was sent packing by Andrey Rublev.
Since returning from surgery, Roger Federer has been using Evans as a hitting partner which may have something to do with the Brit's increasing on-court confidence.
Say it very quietly but all 4 British men are through the first round of Queen's: that's Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper (who put out the 3 seed in straight sets), Dan Evans and Andy Murray.
The epic final and semi-final in the French Open proved once again that you have to be a very good tennis player to beat Djokovic when he's in a serious mood. Even Nadal on clay couldn't do it this time. That doesn't make him an admirable human being but one has to respect that he's very good at what he does.
In an all-British tie, 19 year old Jack Draper was beaten by Cameron Norrie. Dan Evans found Matteo Berrettini too big a challenge, losing in two tightly contested sets.
And British number 2, Cameron Norrie, has just beaten the second seed, Denis Shapovalov in two tight sets to reach the final at Queen's - only the second British man since WWII to manage that.
Who'd have thought it? 19 year old British wild-card Jack Draper has just taken the first set in his match against world no 1 Novak Djokovic, only 238 places higher than him in the rankings.
If the boy does nothing else, he's cheered up the Centre Court crowd.
And in other tennis news Serena Williams joins other top tennis players who have shown the intelligence to not play in the Tokyo Olympics.
Well, quite. Does anyone actually care about Olympic tennis? It seems to me that the Grand Slam tournaments have the high status, and the Olympics are very much an afterthought. It must be a harder choice if you're competing in a sport where the Olympics do represent the pinnacle of success, and this might be your one shot.
Ms Williams says that she has several reasons, but she had already said that she wasn't happy about having to leave her daughter behind, as families aren't allowed to accompany any of the Olympic athletes.
Naomi Osaka and Rafa Nadal have pulled out on health grounds.
Now that Serena has withdrawn injured from the first round at Wimbledon, she can claim to be not fit enough to go the Olympics. But I strongly suspect that this year at least she would much rather have won Wimbledon than won at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, once more we have as a counter-exhibit gracious behaviour from Ash Barty and from her opponent Carla Suarez Mavarro (who had a good excuse for losing - she is under treatment for cancer and has been for the past few months).
Solid performances yesterday by Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie mean there are three British men in Round 3 for the first time this century.
In the women's singles 18 year old Brit Emma Raducanu is also in Round 3, having seen off Marketa Vondrousova, French open finalist in 2019, in straight sets.
Can we acknowledge the tenacity and grace of Miss Ashleigh Barty, a proud Ngarigo woman, in her victory at Wimbledon? Many have commented on the historical linkages. I've been watching Wimbledon finals for over 50 years, including the 1970 Court/King marathon. This one was a display of mulifarious skills, rather than an assertion of power, and a real pleasure to watch.
Once again Djokovic demonstrated that to beat him you need to be a very good tennis player, on top of your game, and able to stay that way for several hours if need be. In other words, he won the men's singles despite losing the first set.
WOW! British teen Emma Radacanu has become the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. She brushed aside the number 17 seed 6-1 6-4 to reach the final of the US Open. 👏👏👏
It's going to be a quite extraordinary final and I plan to watch. Two teenagers who have got there by beating some pretty decent players. Raducanu's opponents maybe haven't been at quite the same level as Fernandez's, but on the other hand Raducanu has had to win 9 matches in a row and she hasn't dropped a single set.
Orfeo, that's keen, having seen what the time difference is. Hopefully bedtime won't get in the way of following the match.
There are a lot of sports people who could claim multiple national allegiances. In this case it's causing multiple mutterings in the media about 1977 again. Unfortunately Raducanu won't have her parents there due to Covid restrictions, but Virginia Wade has been at the matches.
Apparently she had her plane ticket home booked for the end of the qualifying tournament, so she wasn't expecting to get this far. (She had a wildcard for Wimbledon).
Sometimes the womens' final is an anticlimax, with one player overjoyed to just get that far, and consequently overwhelmed.
But not this time. A very competitive game between two young players not afraid to go for their shots, and with both capable of retrieving what would have been winners against less athletic players.
And I for one am impressed by the fact that (until Wimbledon this year) Raducanu kept away from international tournaments in order to finish her schooling (A-levels). Hers is clearly not one of those obsessive "tennis dads" who push their "prodigy" to the point of mental breakdown.
Much as I feel sorry for Rafael Nadal, who must be heartbroken at having to withdraw from Wimbledon, there's a part of me that feels just as sorry for Taylor Fritz, who he beat yesterday. He gave a very decent performance, but now Nick Kyrgios will get a free pass into the final with the advantage over his opponent of having three days' rest, which seems rather unfair.
I agree. Surely it would be better if Taylor Fritz got to play the semi-final against Kyrgios?
Meanwhile, the shock in the women's singles came with Halep losing to Rybakina. I think Ons Jabeur will struggle against Rybakina, not just because of the blustering serve but R's fitness is almost unrivalled on the women's circuit.
Norrie? I think he'll struggle against Djokovic. 🎾
I agree. Surely it would be better if Taylor Fritz got to play the semi-final against Kyrgios?
That's exactly what I thought. After all, if Nadal had decided before the end of their match that he wasn't well enough to play, Fritz would have been declared the winner by default.
Sorry for double-post, but did anyone else enjoy the gents' doubles final as much as I did? Some really excellent rallies and wonderful shots from all the players, one of whom was playing despite having a broken wrist!
I missed the first set of Djokovic/Kyrgios as I decided to watch to the end of the men's wheelchair final first. Both matches were worth it. Even though Alfie Hewett lost after having had 2 good chances to win!
The ladies' doubles final had its moments too. It's a pity that so much more attention (and money) is paid to the singles, as imho doubles is much more fun to watch.
I think I must have got something in my eye when they showed the farewell tribute to Sue Barker - she's going to be a very hard act to follow.
Comments
eta: is Mr. Djokovic still world no. 1?
As if the surprise exit of Djokovic wasn't enough, Rafael Nadal was sent packing by Andrey Rublev.
Since returning from surgery, Roger Federer has been using Evans as a hitting partner which may have something to do with the Brit's increasing on-court confidence.
https://www.tsn.ca/felix-auger-aliassime-defeats-roger-federer-halle-open-atp-1.1655536
At Queen's, Dan Evans has beaten Adrian Mannarino in straight sets.
In an all-British tie, 19 year old Jack Draper was beaten by Cameron Norrie. Dan Evans found Matteo Berrettini too big a challenge, losing in two tightly contested sets.
If the boy does nothing else, he's cheered up the Centre Court crowd.
Well, quite. Does anyone actually care about Olympic tennis? It seems to me that the Grand Slam tournaments have the high status, and the Olympics are very much an afterthought. It must be a harder choice if you're competing in a sport where the Olympics do represent the pinnacle of success, and this might be your one shot.
Naomi Osaka and Rafa Nadal have pulled out on health grounds.
Meanwhile, once more we have as a counter-exhibit gracious behaviour from Ash Barty and from her opponent Carla Suarez Mavarro (who had a good excuse for losing - she is under treatment for cancer and has been for the past few months).
In the women's singles 18 year old Brit Emma Raducanu is also in Round 3, having seen off Marketa Vondrousova, French open finalist in 2019, in straight sets.
Still, well done to Emma Raducanu!
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/denis-shapovalov-advances-wimbledon-semis-1.6092967
By the time she started playing tennis she had been in the UK for several years.
There are a lot of sports people who could claim multiple national allegiances. In this case it's causing multiple mutterings in the media about 1977 again. Unfortunately Raducanu won't have her parents there due to Covid restrictions, but Virginia Wade has been at the matches.
Apparently she had her plane ticket home booked for the end of the qualifying tournament, so she wasn't expecting to get this far. (She had a wildcard for Wimbledon).
I am very happy to have a female British Grand Slam winner.
And the medical time-out in the last game. Quite the drama.
A wonderful achievement
But not this time. A very competitive game between two young players not afraid to go for their shots, and with both capable of retrieving what would have been winners against less athletic players.
And I for one am impressed by the fact that (until Wimbledon this year) Raducanu kept away from international tournaments in order to finish her schooling (A-levels). Hers is clearly not one of those obsessive "tennis dads" who push their "prodigy" to the point of mental breakdown.
Much as I feel sorry for Rafael Nadal, who must be heartbroken at having to withdraw from Wimbledon, there's a part of me that feels just as sorry for Taylor Fritz, who he beat yesterday. He gave a very decent performance, but now Nick Kyrgios will get a free pass into the final with the advantage over his opponent of having three days' rest, which seems rather unfair.
Meanwhile, the shock in the women's singles came with Halep losing to Rybakina. I think Ons Jabeur will struggle against Rybakina, not just because of the blustering serve but R's fitness is almost unrivalled on the women's circuit.
Norrie? I think he'll struggle against Djokovic. 🎾
That's exactly what I thought. After all, if Nadal had decided before the end of their match that he wasn't well enough to play, Fritz would have been declared the winner by default.
Jolly good show all round.
I think I must have got something in my eye when they showed the farewell tribute to Sue Barker - she's going to be a very hard act to follow.